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The Hon Peter Dutton MP

The Hon Peter Dutton MP

Minister for Defence

Peter Dutton is the Member for Dickson and Minister for Defence. 

Minister Dutton was sworn in as the Minister for Defence on 30 March 2021.

Peter has been a member of the National Security Committee of Cabinet for 6 years. He is also a member of the Expenditure Review Committee and the Prime Minister’s leadership team.

Previously, he served as the inaugural Home Affairs Minister in its modern form from December 2017, with responsibility for the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre.  

Peter has also previously served as the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection from December 2014 until August 2018 overseeing Operation Sovereign Borders – stopping the boats, getting every child out of detention, closing the Manus Regional Processing Centre and overseeing the special intake of 12,000 refugees from the Syria and Iraq conflicts.

Prior to that appointment, Peter was Minister for Health and Minister for Sport from September 2013 establishing the $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund.

Peter is married to Kirilly and is the proud father of Rebecca, Harry and Tom and lives in Dayboro in the Dickson electorate.

First elected to the Australian Parliament as the Member for Dickson in November 2001 at age 30, Peter became one of the youngest Ministers since Federation when appointed to the Ministry by Prime Minister John Howard in 2004.

In January 2006, he was promoted to Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer.

Portfolio responsibilities

  • Oversight of all aspects of the Defence portfolio
  • Defence Budget
  • Defence Reform and Enterprise Management
  • Strategic Policy
  • International Policy and Engagement
  • Intelligence
  • Australian Signals Directorate
  • ADF Operations
  • Defence Planning Guidance
  • The Integrated Investment Program
  • Force Structure Review
  • Development of capability requirements
  • Capability/cost trade off during capability lifecycle
  • People, Equipment and Readiness
  • Force Posture, including USFPI and ASMTI
  • Science and Technology policy and support to capability and operations
  • Defence Security and Vetting Policy
  • Estate and Infrastructure Policy
  • Defence Information and Communication Technology

Biography | Media releases | Speeches | Statements | Transcripts
The Hon Melissa Price MP

The Hon Melissa Price MP

Minister for Defence Industry

Minister Price was sworn in as the Minister for Defence Industry on 29 May 2019. The Minister and portfolio were elevated to Cabinet on 30 March 2021. First elected to the Australian Parliament in 2013 as the Member for Durack – the largest electorate in Australia.  Minister Price has previously served in the Environment portfolio and has held a number of Parliamentary Committee roles including the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.  A lawyer by profession, Minister Price brings over 20 years of experience in the private sector from a variety of commercial and legal roles.  She has also supported the community through working with the not-for-profit sector.

Portfolio responsibilities

  • Support the Minister for Defence in the management of capability acquisition and sustainment projects
  • Australian Industry Capability Program
  • Australian defence industry development
  • Defence Exports
  • Global supply chains
  • Equipment disposals
  • Centre for Defence Industry Capability
  • Defence Innovation Hub
  • Science and Technology engagement with Australian industry, including the Next Generation Technology Fund
  • Test and evaluation policy and procedures
  • International engagement on defence industry matters
  • Estate and Infrastructure management and delivery

Biography | Media releases | Speeches | Statements | Transcripts
The Hon Darren Chester MP

The Hon Darren Chester MP

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel

Minister Chester was sworn in for a second term as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel on 29 May 2019, with the portfolio being elevated to Cabinet on 6 February 2020. In his previous term, Minister Chester also served as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac. In February 2016, Minister Chester was appointed to Cabinet as the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. He served for three months on the backbench from December 2017 to February 2018. Minister Chester is the member for Gippsland, Victoria, and was first elected to Federal Parliament on June 26, 2008.

Portfolio responsibilities

  • Personnel policy and support
  • Veterans policy and support
  • Defence Health Services
  • Military justice
  • Honours and Awards
  • Army, Navy and Air Force Cadets
  • Parliamentary Exchange Program
  • Transition from ADF
  • Defence Housing Australia
  • International engagement on veterans and defence personnel matters
  • Defence's response to perfluorinated chemicals matters

Biography | Media releases | Speeches | Statements | Transcripts
Andrew Hastie MP

The Hon Andrew Hastie MP

Assistant Minister for Defence

Assistant Minister Hastie was sworn in as the Assistant Minister for Defence on 22 December 2020. Assistant Minister Hastie was elected to represent the electorate of Canning in the House of Representatives in 2015 and again in 2016 and 2019. Assistant Minister Hastie served in the Australian Defence Force from 2003 to 2015, deploying to various theatres in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific. Assistant Minister Hastie served as Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security from January 2017 to December 2020. His work in this capacity focused on national security, including counter-terrorism, espionage and foreign interference.

Biography | Media releases | Speeches | Statements | Transcripts

Latest media releases

Australian troops to drawdown in Afghanistan

15 April 2021

Joint media release

  • New Microsoft Exchange vulnerabilities

    15 April 2021
  • ADF to assist WA with cyclone clean up

    12 April 2021
  • Designer traineeship supports naval shipbuilding enterprise

    12 April 2021

View more media releases

Latest speeches

Opening remarks - 2021 Australian Cyber Conference

16 March 2021

**Proofed against delivery**

Thank you very much Juanita and good morning to you all.

  • Australian Defence Information and Electronic Systems Association (ADIESA) Annual dinner

    17 February 2021
  • F-35 industry achievements

    9 December 2020
  • Launch of Defence Transformation Strategy

    27 November 2020

View more speeches

Latest statements

Centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force

31 March 2021

I’m very proud to be joining in the celebration of the Royal Australian Air Force.

  • Statement on Cabinet reshuffle

    29 March 2021
  • Statement on Cabinet Appointment

    29 March 2021
  • Statement from the Minister for Defence

    12 March 2021

View more statements

Latest transcripts

Interview with Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies - The Morning Show on Seven

8 April 2021

EO&E...

  • Interview with Ray Hadley, Radio 2GB-4BC

    1 April 2021
  • Interview with Ray Hadley – 2GB

    31 March 2021
  • Interview with Gareth Parker – 6PR

    31 March 2021

View more transcripts

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